CHURCHES OF BERTIE COUNTY

Photograph from the private collection of Lynn C. McCarthy and made
available
for use on the Bertie Page

Official records reveal that Powellsville was incorporated 6 March 1919;
however, it is thought that this community (shown as Powell's Cross Roads on
the April, 1863 Gilmer Map) was probably established in 1879. This latter
date is noteworthy, for on 15 September 1880, Joseph B. Ruffin and his wife,
Mary E. Ruffin, and Frank Askew, deeded for ten dollars to Edward P. Simons,
W.B. Claiton, W.H. Tayloe, J.J. Perry, Joseph Leary, William Miers (of Bertie
County) and D.V. Sessoms, J.L. Jenkins and J.J. Scull (of Hertford County),
Trustees In Trust, 1 2/7 acres "for the use and benefit of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South".

The deed recorded in Bertie County Deed Book VV, Pages 518-520, further
states, "...the said trustees shall erect or cause to be erected on said
land" ( "on the publick road from Powellsville to Pitch Landing", now
Bethelem Church Road) "a house of Religious worship, in which, at all times,
such ministers and preachers as shall from time to time be duly authorized to
preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments of the church, shall have the
privalage to officiate, according to the rules and regulations of said
Methodist Episcopal Church South as may be adopted or enacted by the General
and Annual conferences of such church."

It is thought that the church was built in the 1881-1882 era, making it
117-118 years old. This modest, simple building (constructed of wood) has a
shingled steeple and roof, the latter having been covered with a tin roof for
preservation purposes. A small room, used for Sunday School purposes was
added to the rear of the building a number of years after the original
structure was constructed. Oil, then kerosene lamps were used to illuminate
the interior. A pot-bellied stove was used to heat the sanctuary in earlier
years. A cemetery, no longer in use, is located on the church grounds.

The small, lovely stained glass windows which grace the chancel, were
dedicated in memory of William H. Tayloe (died September 14, 1884) and
Frances Tayloe (died July 3, 18--8); William B. Cleaton (died July 30, 1896);
John W. Britton (born June 24, 1886 - died April 27, 1894) and Lunis Cyrus
Britton (born May 24, 1894 - died October 1, 1894).

The Powellsville Methodist Church continues in operation and is served by a
circuit minister. Services are held once monthly.
Prepared by Lynn McCarthy

POWELLSVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH, BERTIE COUNTY, NC

Sketch made available by Cecil S. Holloman for use on the Bertie County Page. Used in 75th Anniversary Booklet.

Prologue taken from the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Booklet of The Powellsville
Baptist Church, September 30, 1984:

"Baptists began to appear in North Carolina as early as the year 1695, but it
was not until thirty years later that the people began to construct church
buildings. As early settlers in this new world, they were busy establishing
themselves as farmers and constructing rude huts for homes. They chose the
groves that nature provided along the river banks as suitable places to
gather for worship and fellowship. It was in these lovely settings that the
strong-willed Baptist followers would read the Bible, offer prayers, preach
and sing songs of redeeming grace.

The establishment became discontented with these gatherings and sought ways
to prevent them. As a direct action to halt these gatherings, laws were
passed in 1715 which required that meetings of 'dissenters' should be public.
The strong will of these early Baptist leaders prevailed and the authorities
were unsuccessful in stopping the gatherings. Baptists continued to preach
the Gospel and, with these firm foundations established, the first Baptist
Church was organized in 1727 in the area of Perquimans County.
From these early beginnings, the Baptist faith has spread throughout the
state and has resulted in the founding of many more churches."

Dedicated citizens in the community of Powellsville "with their spiritual
needs in mind and the belief that a church can be the greatest transforming
power in any community", banded together to form a Missionary Baptist Church.

On December 29, 1909 M.A. Adams, S.B. Barnes, A.T. Howell and J.R. Matthews
met in the Powellsville school building to organize the church. Bethlehem,
Holly Grove and Mars Hill churches furnished members and deacons to this new
church, which had 35 charter members. Accepted as deacons from other
churches were Josiah Brown and J.E. Matthews. Elected and ordained as new
deacons were D.C. Miller, Dr. J.B. Ruffin, Sr. and A.S. Wynns. J.E. Matthews
was elected first Sunday School superintendent.

On January 10, 1910, just 17 days after the church was organized, J.O. Askew
and his wife, Mary D. Askew and W.P. Shaw and his wife, Mary R. Shaw of
Hertford County deeded to J.B. Ruffin and A.S. Wynns, Church Trustees, for
$50, 15/16 acre of land for the Powellsville Missionary Baptist Church
(Bertie County Deed Book 212, Page 227).

A building program was established and in the fall of 1910, the new church
had been constructed. Serving as the initial pastor was J.R. Matthews,
followed by the Reverend C.P. Jones who arrived in April, 1910. Services
were held the first Sunday of each month. The first revival service began
September 5, 1910.

The financial burdens of the church were heavy at this point. A.T.Howell
worked diligently to strengthen the church's treasury. It was through
donations of neighboring churches and the support of the membership that the
church was debt free in December, 1912. It was said of two trustees, in
James Earl Cowan's paper on "Powellsville Baptist Church, 1909 - 1995",
"trustees Ruffin and Wynns deserve special mention...because their influence
continues in the church to this day. Dr. Ruffin, aside from his work as
trustee and deacon, was an old-time country doctor who made house calls as
far away as Askewville and chose to work with country people who sometimes
paid his fees with eggs and chickens. He never got rich. Augustus S. 'Gus'
Wynns, the other trustee, was head of a family which contributed several
charter members to the church whose descendants are active deacons and
leaders in the church today."

In March, 1913 the Reverend Scott, considered the Founding Father of the
church, delivered his final sermon. Reverend H.F. Brinson followed as second
pastor in May, 1913. Under his leadership, the first Women's Missionary
Society was formed. In October, 1913 Mrs. J.B. Ruffin, Sr. was elected
President. Since that time and for 86 years, the WMS of Powellsville
Baptist Church has made a significant contribution to the church throught its
mission programs.

During the pastorship of the Reverend H.H. Honeycutt (1914-1917), the church
initiated an "Every Member Canvass". Conducted by members, these canvasses
were designed to "establish a basis for the spiritual needs of the
membership". Significantly, under the guidance of the Reverend N.H. Shepperd
(1918-1920), the first Baptist Young People's Union was formed to serve the
young people of the community.

Serving the church for nine years (1920-1929) was the Reverend L.E. Dailey.
In May, 1924 a building committee (W.L. Early, J.E. Jordan, H.O. Raynor, P.L.
Raynor, and W.A. Wynns) was formed after the membership voted to build a new
parsonage.

By 1930 with the new parsonage constructed (and trustees, the Reverend L.E.
Dailey, T.W. Hollomon and J.E.R. Perry, named), the need for Sunday School
rooms became a priority. A building program was initiated for a Sunday
School extension and Mrs. J.J. Alston, G.W. Belch, Sr., Mrs. H.O. Raynor and
J.J. Tayloe were engaged to seek notes and monies for the construction. "By
March, 1931, the committee had solicited $1,889.91 in cash, 6,560 feet of
lumber, and 30 days of labor." Through the leadership of the Reverend K.E.
Byrant and the efforts of the membership, this building program too was
brought to a point of fruition.

Reverend Bryant served for 12 years (1929-1941). It was said that "he
carefully ministered to the congregation and his influence was long
recognized in later activites of the church." In 1938 a porch and bell tower
were added to the front of the sanctuary, giving the church its present-day
appearance. In April, 1945 the Askew heirs deeded additional land to the
church. In 1948 new pews and a new
heating system were installed.

During the 1940's, Powellsville Baptist Church had been in a field with
Bethany, Bethlehem and Center Grove Baptist churches. Bethany withdrew and
Holly Grove joined the field. In 1954, Center Grove Baptist Church and
Powellsville Baptist Church formed a two-church field with Powellsville
furnishing the parsonage. The Reverend D.M. Spell was the first minister to
serve this two-church field.

The 1950's saw the addition to the church of a nursery and restrooms; the
establishment of a Brotherhood organization for male members of the church;
and the development of a church library under the direction of Mrs. W.A.
Wynns. New carpet was installed; a new piano, new choir robes and new
hymnals were purchased. It was the teachings and inspiration of Reverend
Spell and his wife, that had a far-reaching impact on the youth of the church
in the 1950's. Their loving devotion to the spiritual needs of the youth was
perhaps made greater through the untimely loss of twin daughters on October
14, 1955. Crossing the road after a youth choir rehearsal, their daughters
were accidently killed by a passing log truck. No event before or after so
galvinized the church family.

The Reverend A.C. Sanders followed Reverend Spell, who resigned in April,
1960. In 1963, the procurement of a better parsonage was realized. The old
one was sold to members, Ray Tayloe and his wife, Elizabeth, and the new one,
belonging to Mamie Hoggard, was purchased for $17,500. Reverend R.O. Brown
first occupied the new parsonage. In 1964, the note was paid in full, a new
roof was placed on the sanctuary, and the church was painted.

Five pastors served Powellsville Baptist Church in the 1960's. Renovations
to the church continued; additions to the parsonage were made; a new organ
was purchased totally through the donations and memorial gifts of church
members and friends; the tradition of presenting new Bibles to all high
school graduates was begun. Most memorable was the presentation in December,
1967 of a Christmas cantata presented by the combined choirs of Center Grove
and Powellsville Baptist churches.

The past three decades have been marked by numerous building programs
(including the brick veneer added to the structure in the 1970's), but none
more significant than the one that saw the completion of the fellowship hall
and baptistry in 1997. This fulfilled a 35 year old dream of the pastors and
congregation. (Baptisms had formerly been held at Stoney Creek.)

Land adjoining the church property was deeded to the church in 1977 by the
family of Bessie H. Mitchell, which allowed for expansion of the church
building.

The church celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary on September 30, 1984
with a special homecoming celebration, attended by 250 present and former
members as well as descendants of former members. The Reverend D.M. Spell
spoke at the morning service. Former pastors and members spoke in the
afternoon session. Oldest members present were Mrs. Sue Wynns and Mrs. Alice
Dilday, both now deceased.

In November, 1984, the long-time association with Center Grove in the church
field was severed. The last pastor to serve the two-church field was the
Reverend J.H. Mace.

B.A. Mitchell, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Mitchell and J.B. Wynns, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Braxton Wynns, both entered the ministry from Powellsville Baptist
Church. Mitchell was ordained by the Reverend K.E. Bryant in 1933 and Wynns
was licensed to preach in 1972.

Church membership in 1936 totalled 329. In 1995, the membership stood at
233. Suinday School enrollment in 1934 was 230. In 1995, the enrollment was
125.

The advancement of Powellsville Baptist Church has come through many
materialistic accomplishments, but these accomplishments were and remain
today, directed toward the spiritual needs of the members and the community
and "the advancing the Kingdom of God...."

"Powellsville Baptist Church has
every reason to take pride in its past accomplishments; to rejoice in its
blessings and in its many saintly members who have given generously of their
talents and resources in building and maintaining this House of Worship...."
"The church should not, nor does it take this backward look for the purpose
of congratulating itself or resting upon its labors, but only with the hope
and the prayer that it may be inspired to greater things in the future. Just
as it did in its early years when its members were few and its problems
great",... the church "calls for men and women of ability, courage and
wisdom, of patience in service, and of faith in God who will labor
unsparingly and unselfishly to maintain the high standards set by those who
served so faithfully and so well...."

My thanks go to Mary Anne Williams, Rosalie Hollomon, Mary Kathlyn Early and
James E. Cowan, J.C. Hoggard and Oma D. Askew, for making the presentation of
this Abbreviated History possible.

Prepared by Lynn McCarthy

Holly Grove Baptist Church

Photograph from the private collection of Lynn C. McCarthy and made
available
for use on the Bertie Page

Holly Grove Baptist Church, (located on Highway 13 North), was originally
organized as Outlaw's Chapel (and as part of the Kehukee Association) in 1804
with 99 members. Jeremiah Bunch was the first pastor.

The original Holly Grove Baptist Church Minutes date to September 7, 1822 and
read as follows:

"Minutes and proceedings of the Church at Holly Grove
formaley the Church at Outlaws Chappel - met according to appointment
Sermon by Elder Hilrey Morriss a door opened for members, on motion it
was ordered that a Reccord be made of the death of our beloved Brother John
Mitchell who departed this life the 6th day of August A.D. 1822 on motion
it was ordered that absenttees should render an excuse for their non
attendance and if they miss two conferences that they be cited to attend
Agreed we adjourn prayer By Elder Morriss---"

It was apparently in 1825 that Outlaw's Chapel officially became Holly Grove
Baptist Church for the Minutes for September 10 reflected, "...on motion
brethren J.P. Freeman J.J. Hoggard W. Spivey and D. Pruden were
appointed a cammity to rase a church fund & report to our next con. Agreed
that Brother Pruden take the Deede for the meeting house Land & get it
Registered."

The name of the church was apparently taken from the numerous holly trees
which covered the property, for in the January 12, 1828 Minutes, a resolution
was made "that we meet at this place next friday for the purpose of cleaning
up the Grove".

While other pastors have been mentioned as associated with Outlaw's Chapel,
the first recording in the Minutes of a pastor for Holly Grove was April 26,
1826. Brother W.H. Jordan was chosen. Noteworthy to mention is the fact
that no membership lists survive prior to 1893 for a church which reached its
195th year of continuous operation in 1999.

The original Church Covenant reads as follows:

"Forasmuch as almighty God by
Grace has been pleased to call us whose names are underneath assigned out of
darkness into his marvelous light & all of us have been Regularley Baptised
under a profession of our faith in Christ Jesus & have given up our selves to
the Lord & to one another in a Gospel Church way To be governed and
guided by a proper deciplen agreable to the word of God We do therefore in
the name of our Lord Jesus & by his assistance Covenant & agree to keep up
the deciplen of the church we are members of In the most brotherley
affection towards each other while we endever punctualey to observe the
following Rules (Viz)----1st In Brotherley love to pray for each other, to
watch over one another & if need be in the most tender & affectionate manner
to Reprove each other That is if we discover aneything amiss in a brother
to go & tell him his fault according to the direction given in the eighteenth
chapter of Saint Matthews gospel, & not to be whispering & backbiteing, we
also agree with Gods assistance to pray in our famileys, attend our church
meetings, observe the Lords day & keep it holey, & not abcent our selves from
the communion of the Lords supper without a lawful excuse To be reddy to
communicate to the defraying of the church Expenses & for the support of the
ministrey not erregularley to depart from the fellowship of the church
without a Regular dismission, these things we do covenant & agree to observe
& keep sackred in the name of & by the assistance of the holey trinity
Amen-----Signed by the mutual concent of the members whose names are
underneath assigned."

This Covenant was read at every conference. The Church roll was called at
every meeting. Those who had been absent were required to cite excuses for
non-attendance. Grievances were brought before the church membership. If
the brothers and sisters failed to confess their "misconduct" and ask for the
forgiveness of the brethen, they were merely excluded from the membership.

The Minutes that exist begin in 1822. George Williams was first mentioned 13 December 1828 as Brother George Williams. In January 1829, he was referred to as Elder. He was unanimously chosen to pastor the church for one year on 09 March 1833. On 29 March 1833, he accepted the call of the church to serve them as pastor for the one year provided that the church would change their meeting times from the second to the 1st Sunday in each month.

In the 12 April 1834 Minutes, $24 for his services during the previous year was mentioned. On 03 May of the same year, he agreed to serve "as long as convenient". In May 1835, he and Henry White agreed to serve the church together. In March 1836, the church wanted Mr. Williams and Mr. White to serve again. Henry White served.

On March 31, 1860 during the pastorship of John Delk, a committee was
appointed
to discuss the subject of repairing the existing meeting house or building a
new one. On May 5 of the same year, the committee (consisting of J.P.
Freeman, James S. Mitchell and J.W. Cowin) recommended that a new structure
be built. Such recommendation was adopted and the same committee was charged
with carrying out said recommendation.

The indebtedness for this structure was $896.15. The amount raised by
subscriptions was $803.63. Following is a description of the building to be
constructed (and which stands today) from the May 5, 1860 Minutes: "...we
reckomend the building of a new house 32 by 40 feet long 16 feet from sill
to plate with the End fronting the Road with 2 doors in the front End
Pulpit & 2 windows in the Back end & 3 windows in each Side with a Galory all
Round except the Pulpit end which is to be entered by a door outside of the
house Said house to be built of good Sound Substantial timber plastored
Sealed painted & whitewashed inside and out & to be underpined with open
Brick work all round the whole to be made of good material & Executed in a
neat & workmanlike manner the House to stand where the oald one Stands &
that to be worked up in the new one where it will answer the purpose...."

Not long after the completion of the new church and during the conference
held on June 6, 1863, the Minutes reveal the motion, ..."all the members of
this church that have left & gone to the yankees are excluded & the clerk
appointed to ascertain the no. & names of those gone & report to our next
meeting". Subsequent Minutes through 1865 disclosed that those who were
excommunicated were black members.

Through the 1800's, Holly Grove supported local and foreign missions and
faithfully met its financial obligations. The first Sunday School was
organized November 8, 1891 with 17 members. In 1894 a reed organ was place
in the sanctuary.

In 1906, the first Women's Missionary Society was formed. Sallie Barnes
Hardison was the first President; Fannie Harmon Byrd was Secretary-Treasurer.
Sallie Vaughan Garrett was leader of the first Sunbeam Band, organized in
1910. Also in 1910, the membership of Holly Grove raised $500 to assist the
Powellsville Baptist Church in its organizational efforts. Church membership
during these early years of the twentieth century, exceeded 200.

Remodeling of the building occurred in 1911 and 1912. A handmade pulpit,
installed in 1913, remains in use today. New pews were installed in 1915.
Interestingly, a baptismal pool was constructed outside of the church in
1917, used once, and later removed due to the cold winters. Baptisms in the
1921-1926 era were held at Stoney Creek. A cemetery on the grounds, is no
longer used for burials.

Financial difficulties were experienced during the 1930's and membership
decreased. In 1935, Holly Grove joined Republican as a field. Since that
time, the church has been in a number of fields with other churches, has used
interim pastors, and is now served by a supply pastor. Membership has
continued to decline but the faithfulness of the current membership is truly
remarkable.

The transcription of the 1883 "Holly Grove Church roll as taken from the record and corrected saturday before 1st Lord's day in April/83"; the "List of Sisters Names at Holly Grove Oct 1893"; the "List of Male Members at Holly Grove Baptist Church" for 1901; and the "List of Female Members of Holly Grove Baptist Church" for 1902 have been typed as written by the church recorders. No attempts have been made to make corrections.

These lists provide a record of some of the persons who lived within close proximity to the church during the approximate time period that the lists were made and updated. In some instances, previously unknown death dates are given. Those dismissed or expelled are named. On occasion, the newest members were listed.

These lists should be read in concert with the actual Minutes which, in most cases, will provide additional data. For instance, the Minutes may include the name of the church an individual was transferring to, thus giving their new location. Also they will provide information on persons joining Holly Grove. The reason for expelling a member is contained in the Minutes.

As is noted, all lists were updated beyond the 1883, 1893 and 1901/1902 dates. No list has been found prior to 1883 nor for the 1893 male members of Holly Grove.

Any church records beyond 1910 are thought to be in the possession of Thomas Eugene Ruffin, II of Bertie County.